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Medical director Ian Harvey said: “We believe up to 38% of Countess emergency department attendances could have been avoided or seen in an alternative healthcare setting. The national average is about 25%. This means 1 in 3 patients could have been dealt with differently – either by calling NHS 111, GP out of hours or arranging a daytime GP appointment.”

He added: “We would be happy to see these patients in the NHS but not in the accident and emergency department. This unnecessary overcrowding is delaying the treatment of genuine emergencies. If your nearest and dearest is ill, you don’t want their life-saving treatment to be delayed. So please use the A & E services wisely.

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“The run up to Christmas and the first few weeks of January always sees local NHS services under pressure. Our patients also keep us going at times like this and we ask that those coming to the hospital bear with us while we are busy. Those with the most serious clinical needs will be prioritised and treated first. Other less urgent cases may face longer waits."